Topic: Day-by-Day Review: 2015 Acura TLX Tech; Day 1

[bombastic]

and the trunk with nearly fold flat 60/40 split rear seats

See, here's the thing.  The Accord is good, but has shortcomings (no AWD, no 60/40 split rears, and not particularly luxurious).  The TLX needs to build on that.  Like the Accord, but want a little more?  Try out the TLX!

How can the Accord get such accolades ("oh, emm, gee!  That CVT is sooooo good!") and the TLX get slammed "9-er gear hunts...8-er is lurchy and not so great in the cold weather"??

Here's what AhCureAh needs to do:
1)
2) Do not fear the CVT.
3) Do not spend money on things consumers won't notice or care about (PAWS?  8-speed auto with torque converter?).  If Honda's CVT is being loved, use it.  Acura consumers want smooth, luxurious rides...not lurchy, gear-hunting ones.

The styling of the TLX is good.  The available tech is good.  The car is easy enough to live with, and the engines are good.  Kill off FWD and kill off the transmissions in favour of the good things you already have.  Do not pay attention to auto journos who hate CVTs...they're being silly.

Do not boo me for stating the obvious here...CVTs are getting better and they will, in time, be more preferable in every car that is not designed for track use.  ...even then, they may be useful.

CVT is a NO NO for a luxury car.

[EV-Light]

and the trunk with nearly fold flat 60/40 split rear seats

See, here's the thing.  The Accord is good, but has shortcomings (no AWD, no 60/40 split rears, and not particularly luxurious).  The TLX needs to build on that.  Like the Accord, but want a little more?  Try out the TLX!

It sounds like the failed formula Ford has been applying to Lincoln for - I don't know how long...here's a Fusion, oh don't like it? Look at this luxurious MKZ!

What Acura actually needs is to engineer their cars without the budgetary constraints - or at least not too many of them - that Honda has been forcing down on them. Example: I look at the TLX's interior and I compare it to the the Accord's interior and I have a very hard time trying to find something very different (a la Ford/Lincoln).
What I am talking about here is VW/Audi: as soon as you climb into the interior of an Audi, you won't find anything that reminds you of its relationship with VW, and that's why they've been able to achieve certain success!

[Noto]

CVT is a NO NO for a luxury car.

I disagree entirely.

You're mistaking luxury for sporty/performance-y.  Those who drive luxury sedans just want a smooth ride and good power delivery.  In that respect, a CVT is ideal.

In my $80,000 Lexus, I couldn't be happier with the 'eCVT'...smooth and unobtrusive.  I could not care less if the engine revved 'conventionally' or at a constant RPM.  My parents agreed.

Not all CVTs are equal.  Unless you've driven some of the better ones out there, keep your CVT-hatred to yourself.

[EV-Light]

^^ I disagree. I think it's a fine formula and Lexus uses it too. In fact, one might argue that Audis are tarted up VWs as a lot of their cars do have a lot of carry over - you're just blind to it. I think if you do it right you can be more successful in a slot like Acura rather than fighting toe to toe with the likes of the German 3, Lexus, and Cadillac and Jag, etc.

If you look at a lot of the past generation Acuras like my TL or my MDX (I have experience) the interior, dynamics, and other intangibles are significantly improved over their Honda counterparts. I would argue that it isn't was not build quality or anything else that affected the sales of the TL but styling. The MDX has always sold very well.

As for this TLX it's tough to know because they are trying to get like 4 cars out of one - which is suspect is part of the problem. IMO they should have taken where the current TL left off and improved the few shortcomings - the auto transmission and the styling.

Lexus doesn't use the same formula at all, they are more Audi than Lincoln...look at the ES and Avalon's interiors as an example:

[Jaeger]

^^^ Good point.

[Noto]

look at the ES and Avalon's interiors as an example

Hmm, that Avalon has a really nice-looking interior!

[nlm]

The TLX looked less bulky than the TSX?!? I need to see the side by side b/c the TSX always looked relatively slim, especially since the TLX is the bigger vehicle.

+1 for V6 + SH-AWD. While I'm at it: +1 for that combo with a manual!

[ArticSteve]

Wing;  how many kms on your tester?

[wing]

Not sure will have to check tonight. 

[wing]

Forgot to mention the transmission surges and slips badly when cold...

[ArticSteve]

That is universally reported by users even those in Florida. 

[aquadorhj]

Forgot to mention the transmission surges and slips badly when cold...

That is universally reported by users even those in Florida. 

product sign off team should be fired.

(or let them learn from this mistake so this kind of SH!T doesn't happen to Acura again.)

[Noto]

What does work really well is reverse, most dual-clutch transmission are horrible in reverse while the TLX is ultra smooth.

Well, that's going to sway me to buy this car.

...it doesn't work all that well while going forward, but reverse is ultra smooth!   

The headlights really are incredible.  I was driving last night and a TLX was behind my RX on a secondary road.  Though my RX has HIDs, the LEDs from behind flooded the road ahead of me (!) way better than my own, and also seemed aimed properly so to not blind me.  I'm a big fan.

I've said it before and I'll say it again - bring me an ILX with the 2.4L and SH-AWD for somewhere near its current pricing regimen and I will officially abandon my desire for a WRX.  I do not say that lightly as I love the WRX, but Acura has so much potential...shame to see them 'fail' for such silly reasons (i.e. fail to woo me, )

[vols1]

CVT is a NO NO for a luxury car.

I disagree entirely.

You're mistaking luxury for sporty/performance-y.  Those who drive luxury sedans just want a smooth ride and good power delivery.  In that respect, a CVT is ideal.

In my $80,000 Lexus, I couldn't be happier with the 'eCVT'...smooth and unobtrusive.  I could not care less if the engine revved 'conventionally' or at a constant RPM.  My parents agreed.

Not all CVTs are equal.  Unless you've driven some of the better ones out there, keep your CVT-hatred to yourself.

You got ripped if you paid $80,000 for an RX.

[EV-Light]

CVT is a NO NO for a luxury car.

I disagree entirely.

You're mistaking luxury for sporty/performance-y.  Those who drive luxury sedans just want a smooth ride and good power delivery.  In that respect, a CVT is ideal.

In my $80,000 Lexus, I couldn't be happier with the 'eCVT'...smooth and unobtrusive.  I could not care less if the engine revved 'conventionally' or at a constant RPM.  My parents agreed.

Not all CVTs are equal.  Unless you've driven some of the better ones out there, keep your CVT-hatred to yourself.

You got ripped if you paid $80,000 for an RX.

LOL I think he inflated the price a bit...that Lexus RX400h was worth about $45k back in 2006!

[Noto]

LOL I think he inflated the price a bit...that Lexus RX400h was worth about $45k back in 2006!

I paid substantially less, given that I bought it used (12,000mi, bought in 2007) in the US.

http://www.autos.ca/car-test-drives/test-drive-2006-lexus-rx-400h-hybrid/

Technical Data: 2006 Lexus RX400h Hybrid

Base price   $62,200
Options   None
Freight   $1,675
A/C tax   $100
Price as tested   $63,975 Click here for options, dealer invoice prices and factory incentives
...
The only option available is a luxury package ($7,500) which includes a Mark Levinson premium audio system with eleven speakers, 7-inch colour LCD display, DVD based navigation system, rear seat DVD screen and player with wireless headphones and joystick controls.

$63,975+$7,500 = $71,475 * 14% sales tax (GST 6% and PST 8%) = $81,481.50.

#lawyered.

...and thanks, Greg, again for your article!

[vols1]

LOL I think he inflated the price a bit...that Lexus RX400h was worth about $45k back in 2006!

I paid substantially less, given that I bought it used (12,000mi, bought in 2007) in the US.

http://www.autos.ca/car-test-drives/test-drive-2006-lexus-rx-400h-hybrid/

Technical Data: 2006 Lexus RX400h Hybrid

Base price   $62,200
Options   None
Freight   $1,675
A/C tax   $100
Price as tested   $63,975 Click here for options, dealer invoice prices and factory incentives
...
The only option available is a luxury package ($7,500) which includes a Mark Levinson premium audio system with eleven speakers, 7-inch colour LCD display, DVD based navigation system, rear seat DVD screen and player with wireless headphones and joystick controls.

$63,975+$7,500 = $71,475 * 14% sales tax (GST 6% and PST 8%) = $81,481.50.

#lawyered.

...and thanks, Greg, again for your article!

Just having some fun here NoTo but you did say "my $80,000 Lexus .Taxes are a given and not part of the value of a car. #lawyered

[Noto]

"my $80,000 Lexus .Taxes are a given and not part of the value of a car.

I was discussing the value of a vehicle when new.  Part of the purchase is the taxes that must be paid.  Therefore, if you buy a new vehicle, you must pay that amount, less dealer and other discounts.

The point was to suggest that a CVT can be desirable in an expensive, luxury vehicle.

[mmret]

Just having some fun here NoTo but you did say "my $80,000 Lexus .Taxes are a given and not part of the value of a car. #lawyered

That is a weak retort.

[EV-Light]

Just having some fun here NoTo but you did say "my $80,000 Lexus .Taxes are a given and not part of the value of a car. #lawyered

That is a weak retort.